73.017 Autographa jota (Plain Golden Y)

fw: 17-21mm (Waring & Townsend), ws: 39-45mm (MBGBI10); Jun-Aug; various herbaceous plants; said to be common throughout GB (but I haven't found it to be at all common).

Autographa jota (Plain Golden Y) §3 male

ID: The 'Y' mark is variable; typically it is broken ('v' and a dot); it may be complete ('contationis' as in §1, common), reduced to a dot ('inscripta', uncommon) or dilated into a large golden wedge (very rare). Similar to A.pulchrina (Beautiful Golden Y) - the most apparent difference between these two species is the presence of a fairly distinct kidney mark outlined with a golden '8' in A.pulchrina, while in A.jota the kidney mark is obscure without an outline. A.jota is generally plainer, with less distinct cross-lines while A.pulchrina is more marbled with more distinct pale golden cross-lines; A.pulchrina also shows a small black blotch proximal to the subbasal line which is absent in A.jota. See Autographa pulchrina vs jota for more information. All other species with a ‘Y’ mark are not reddish.